A PLEDGE FOR COVID-19 SAFETY IN CAMBODIA
Published: Jan 14, 2022 Reading time: 2 minutes
Phnom Penh, January 2021 – People In Need (PIN) has raised USD $100,000 following an international donor pledge drive in Cambodia. In late 2021, PIN in Cambodia partnered with the Heineken International beverage company to implement ‘The Pledge,’ a public call-to-action to help promote safety practices against COVID-19.
“The Pledge” campaign encouraged people to publicly state on Heineken’s social media accounts that they were committed to COVID-19 safety measures. For every pledge, the company donated USD $1 to PIN, funds that were used for the “Integrated COVID-19 Response in Urban Settings in Phnom Penh” project.
The ultimate goal of the fundraising effort was to support the economic recovery of microbusinesses and to provide employment opportunities for workers who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
“This is indeed a great initiative, setting aside differences between the public and private sectors, and creating a bridge to align the objectives of both when it comes to community service – for enhanced and strengthened cooperation to tackle development challenges,” says Lukas Laube, Country Director for PIN in Cambodia
The campaign began on 15 November 2021 and ended on 24 December 2021 after reaching its goal of 100,000 supporters.
Link to PIN Cambodia Country Director explaining the partnership
The COVID-19 situation in Cambodia has improved dramatically in recent months due to government efforts to contain the spread of the virus. In November 2021, vaccinated tourists were permitted entry, and the country is slowly adapting to the pandemic’s “new normal.”
Despite these positive trends, there is a great need for continued awareness about staying safe and preventing COVID-19 transmission. Cambodian leaders will need to continue reminding the public to remain safe by following the three do’s and three don’ts: Do wear a mask, wash hands regularly, and maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres. The three don’ts are to avoid confined and enclosed spaces, avoid crowded places, and avoid physical contact. COVID-19 is a global challenge and can only be contained if all stakeholders fulfill their roles in the fight against the virus.
“We need to think ‘outside of the box,” says Laube. “It is not only the role of governments and the international community to achieve a COVID-free world. We need to be innovative when tackling development challenges. How? Through meaningful partnerships that bring together different stakeholders with similar interests for the common good.”